'Let's erase the racism within'

From the need to forget long-held myths to improving discipline among members, PKR Youth delegates have contributed to the debate at their annual congress today.

This is a selection of points raised this afternoon at the indoor Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam, Selangor, where the party is holding its three-day meeting.

‘Confront and erase BN myths’

A Kedah delegate to the PKR Youth congress called on members of the wing to live up to their to multiracial tag and eliminate racism in themselves.

Khairul Nizam Mohd Razali, from Padang Serai, said he had been raised since childhood with all sorts of stereotypes and presumptions about other ethnic communities.

Among these was the belief that the Chinese store weapons in their houses and, therefore, pose danger to the security and safety of the Malays, he said.

He was also told that when a Chinese dies, his or her identity card is kept so that it can be taken up by a migrant from mainland China, who are “coming in droves to seize this country away from us”.

However, Khairul said his involvement in the reformasi movement and activism with PKR members and activists from other ethnic communities have allowed him to see that such notions are false.

He said these falsehoods were created and perpetuated by Umno and Barisan Nasional’s other component parties in order to keep the communities divided and distrustful of each other.

“This is among the political games of Umno and BN to scare Malays. They give us sweeping statements about other communities. But what have they done for us? What have they given to us up until now?

“They have given us only propaganda. The MCA would tell the Chinese that if they enter PAS, they have to be circumcised.

"Indians are told that if they join the opposition parties, they cannot drink alcohol.”

Urging party members of all races to confront these and other myths and erase them from their minds, Khairul said: “If we do not do this, how can we expect the people behind us to do so? If we can do this, then the whole country will fall to us.”

About 600 Youth delegates responded with shouts of approval and applause.

Mawi for PKR?

Johor delegate Zabidie Abas said PKR should attract more people into the party by mixing with people of all backgrounds and political affiliations.

They could also invite singers and other artistes to PKR’s programmes and activities, said Zabidie.

He claimed that singer Asmawi Ani - popularly known as Mawi (right) - is among those whom PKR can target as he had been active in helping the party during previous election campaigns.

“Like me, Mawi is from Kulai. He used to work with me in putting up PKR posters! We should invite Dato Seri (de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim) there and remind him (Mawi) of his past association with us,” said Zabidie.

Tardy Youth delegates

Kangar delegate Noor Helmi Abdul Hamid chided members for their lack of discipline, saying this is being reflected even during the congress.

Citing the half-hour delay in starting the Youth wing’s afternoon session - caused by tardiness of delegates - Noor Helmi said PKR still has far to go before it can qualify to run the country.

“If we are weak and have no discipline, we will not move anywhere,” said Noor Helmi, who called on party leaders to organise training for the Youth members, specifically to improve their discipline.

Absentee representatives

Ahmad Azrizal Tahir from Bayan Baru, Penang, said the PKR parliamentary and state assembly representatives no longer have an excuse to be absent from their constituencies.

They could have been excused two or three months after their election victory, he said.

However, they should now realise that eight months have passed since the March 8 general election.

“We hope the Yang Berhormat can bring about the changes that we want,” he added.

‘Don't ignore Sarawak'

Sarawak delegate Rahamat Aidil blasted national Youth leaders for ignoring the 'eastern' states.

Political rhetoric about taking over more parts of Malaysia was useless unless there are concrete measures to strengthen PKR's presence in all states, said Rahamat, when debating the address by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Making it even more critical for Sarawak, said Rahamat, is the fact that the state will face an election in less than two years.

Unless the momentum gained by the March 8 general election is carried through by investing time and resources in the Sarawak Youth wing, the national leaders will not be able to exploit the impact of the ‘political tsunami', he added.

He expressed disappointment that national Youth leaders had not even visited the Sarawak Youth wing.

"Do not look down on Sarawak. Is it because Sarawak is not as important as Peninsular Malaysia?" he asked.